Identification
- 2 to 6 inches tall.
- Flowering plants have 2 or 3 leaves growing on a single stem (1 in non-flowering plants).
- Leaves are smooth with parallel veins. Oval or heart-shaped.
- Many tiny white, fragrant, 4-petaled flowers grow in a spike.
- Flowers and fruits grow on the same stem as leaves.
- Small clusters of green speckled berries turn tan, then red.
| Flowering |
Are some or all of the plant (s)...
Before flower - The tiny round flower buds are unopened. Flowers at the bottom of the stem open first.
In flower - The flowers are opened and 4 tiny white petals appear. Petals on some of the flowers have not wilted yet.
Past flower - The opened flowers are beginning to lose their petals, or the ovary is beginning to swell and develop into a green fruit with tiny red spots.
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| Fruiting |
Are some or all of the plant(s)...
Before ripe fruit - Ovaries have lost their petals and developed into green fruits with small red spots. The ripening fruits will swell and turn from green to tan; the red spotting will increase until the berries are ripe when completely red.
Ripe fruit - The berries are completely red. Fruits at the bottom of the stem develop first, so fruits at the top of the stem may ripen last, as is the case in the picture, where the top fruit still is still tan with red spots and is not yet fully ripe.
After ripe fruit – We are not monitoring this stage for this species. Because not all flowers will develop into fruits, it is difficult to determine if a “missing” fruit at the end of an empty stem is the result of fruit that already fully ripened and dispersed, or the result of a flower that was not pollinated and therefore never began to develop into a fruit.
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Fun Facts
This species is common to all mountain elevations including protected alpine areas.
In the fall, grouse favor these berries. Indians used the plant for headaches and sore throats.
The genus name is derived from the Latin maius, 'May', and anthemon, 'flower', referring to the flowering time of these plants (though northern plants may bloom much later).
The species name, canadense, indicates that this species was first identified in Canada.
